Cisco Cisco WebEx Meeting Center WBS29.8 White Paper
7 TalkingPointz
September 23, 2016
Similarly, in Gartner’s 2016 Magic Quadrant
for Web Conferencing, the analysts wrote,
“Cisco WebEx leads the market in terms of
share, has credibility among enterprise buyers,
accommodates every use case in this research,
and matches most user feature requirements...
Its mature enterprise and video integrations,
extensive infrastructure, and robust carrier part-
nerships make WebEx an appealing choice for
large, globally distributed organizations.”
for Web Conferencing, the analysts wrote,
“Cisco WebEx leads the market in terms of
share, has credibility among enterprise buyers,
accommodates every use case in this research,
and matches most user feature requirements...
Its mature enterprise and video integrations,
extensive infrastructure, and robust carrier part-
nerships make WebEx an appealing choice for
large, globally distributed organizations.”
A big advantage for Cisco is
that it can accommodate meet-
ings over a variety of devices
and situations, from elaborate
room systems to mobile devices.
Cisco provides most, if not
all, of the components of the
overall conferencing service.
This dramatically simplifies use,
procurement, and support.
that it can accommodate meet-
ings over a variety of devices
and situations, from elaborate
room systems to mobile devices.
Cisco provides most, if not
all, of the components of the
overall conferencing service.
This dramatically simplifies use,
procurement, and support.
Conversely, Microsoft relies heavily on partners
such as Polycom, Logitech, AudioCodes, and
others to provide key components necessary for
conferencing. Additionally, Microsoft licensing
is usually obtained from different partners than
those that assist with the design, installation, and
support of its collaboration solutions.
such as Polycom, Logitech, AudioCodes, and
others to provide key components necessary for
conferencing. Additionally, Microsoft licensing
is usually obtained from different partners than
those that assist with the design, installation, and
support of its collaboration solutions.
One customer interviewed described its Micro-
soft implementation as a “death by a thousand
cuts.” He was referring to the number of vendors
and separate components that must be acquired,
implemented, and maintained. “There’s just too
many pieces, and something always breaks,”
said the administrator, who requested anonymity.
soft implementation as a “death by a thousand
cuts.” He was referring to the number of vendors
and separate components that must be acquired,
implemented, and maintained. “There’s just too
many pieces, and something always breaks,”
said the administrator, who requested anonymity.
Real-time video is native to Skype for Business,
regardless of whether it is used for instant messag-
ing, web conferencing, or enterprise telephony.
Skype for Business can integrate with video
conferencing solutions that enterprises already
have deployed on premise. However, tight
integration will typically require solutions from
third parties such as Polycom. Polycom now
offers a version of its software that emulates
the look and feel of Skype for Business, but the
solution is still composed of multiple vendors.
regardless of whether it is used for instant messag-
ing, web conferencing, or enterprise telephony.
Skype for Business can integrate with video
conferencing solutions that enterprises already
have deployed on premise. However, tight
integration will typically require solutions from
third parties such as Polycom. Polycom now
offers a version of its software that emulates
the look and feel of Skype for Business, but the
solution is still composed of multiple vendors.
While most Skype for Business
solutions utilize third-party hard-
ware from Microsoft partners
such as Polycom and Logitech,
with the Surface Hub, Microsoft
introduced new solutions for
conference rooms. The current
solutions are new, but the
strategy is not. Microsoft pre-
solutions utilize third-party hard-
ware from Microsoft partners
such as Polycom and Logitech,
with the Surface Hub, Microsoft
introduced new solutions for
conference rooms. The current
solutions are new, but the
strategy is not. Microsoft pre-
viously launched and then discontinued room
system solutions with several partners including
Crestron and LifeSize. Two of its larger partners
for room systems, Smart Tech and Polycom, were
recently acquired by new owners.
system solutions with several partners including
Crestron and LifeSize. Two of its larger partners
for room systems, Smart Tech and Polycom, were
recently acquired by new owners.
Customers report more confidence with Cisco’s
solutions, as they have been on the market for
some time now and continue to drop in price.
As well, Cisco delivers a full range of video
conferencing technology. This not only includes
the real- time video capability built directly into
WebEx apps, but a range of video-enabled
hardware devices including phones, worksta-
tions, and room systems that address most every
video conferencing requirement.
solutions, as they have been on the market for
some time now and continue to drop in price.
As well, Cisco delivers a full range of video
conferencing technology. This not only includes
the real- time video capability built directly into
WebEx apps, but a range of video-enabled
hardware devices including phones, worksta-
tions, and room systems that address most every
video conferencing requirement.